Knitting machine



C. C. KRIEBLE KNITTING MACHINE Filed Sept.4 19, 1922 7 Sheets-$heet l lzz/zenor:

Charles aafzfb ze,

Peli'. 10. 1925.

Find sept. l, 1922. 7 sneetsQSheet 2 Ira/:enfer:

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C. C. KRIEBLE KNITTING MACHINE Filedsept. 19, 1922 vshee'ts-shet s Feb. 10. 1925. 1,525,610

` C. KRIEBLE l KNI'IYTING MACHINE l Filed sept. 1.9, 1922 'r sheets-Sheet' 4 anun/Enna u ,/f/ /g/ O i, In v/en Z'qr:

Charles C. .Knz'ela c. cfKRlEBLE KNITTING MACHINE Feb, 1o. 1925.

Filed Sept 19, 1922. l7 Sheets-Shet 5 z'eble am@ MQ/Z2 My.,

Feb, r1o, 1925. 1,525,610

C. C. KRIEBLE KNITTING? MACHINE me@ sept, 19,; 1922, #sheets-sheet '7 TQQ. Z5.

df scl/ie5ze,

\--\lo all whom it may concern:

*25 needle diagrammatically the needle wave and the Patented Feb. 1o. 1925.

UNITED STATE-S PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. KR IEBL, F NORRISTQWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 WILDMAN .'lllIFGr.v CO.,. OF-NORRISTQWN, PENNSYLVANIA., A CORIORATION OF PENNSYL- mmm.

KNITTING Maenner.

-Bitfknown that .1, CHARLES C. Klamme, a citizen of the United Sta-tes, anda resident of Norristown, in the county of Mont vl gomery and lState of Pennsylvania, have.

invented certain new `and useful Improve ments in Knitting Machines, of. which the following is a specification.

The 'invention is designed particularly for makingneckties, but'is not limited tosucb use.-

L The invention consists in'thefeatures andv combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.l

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a frontview of a knitting machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Y

Fig. 2a shows details.

Fig. 3 is aplan view.

Fig. 4 is a detail plan view.-

Fig.

cams and trickwheels, showing also yarn feed ends.

Fig. `6 shows the device for lowering the stitch cam.

Fig. 7 shows the star wheel and ratchet used for various purposes.

Fig. 8 is a View of the stitch cam post. Fig. 9 is a view of the needle raising cam ost. p Figs. 10, 10, 11,.and 12 are views of power transmitting slides.

Fig. 13 is a'viewof aV portion of the jacquard paper strip.

14 ,isa detail view. Figs. 15, 16, 17 and 18 are views of details relating to the selector devices.

Fig. 19 is a plan view of tl e gear for driving the needle cylinder and certain cams mounted thereon.

Fig. 2() is a sectional -View of the needle cylinderand the gear for'clriving the same. Figs. 21 and 22 are views on a: reduced scale of la bracket for supportingand gu'idv ing certain parts.

5 is a developed view of the sets of Application filed September 19, 1922. Serial No. 589,094.

Fig. 28 is a section lofthe needle cylinder, and sinker dial andcam.

Fig. 29 isa bottom plan of the sinker cam. The machine has a` revolving needle carrier l'7 the needleswbeing indicated at 2.

There is a. group ofmain yarn guide 'fingers at each side/of the machine, these being for different colors or kinds of yarn. Thefingers 3 of each4 group are pivotally mountedside by side at l4 in brackets 5' fixed to the sinker cam rin 6V which is held against rotationby a stud extending from a bracket 8,'r said stud entering a notch in the cam ring. -V

`The main yarn fingers 3 incline downwardly and inwardly from their pivots towards the axis of the Inachineand feed thel yarn to the'needles through mouths 1.0, 10 of a latch guard ring11 fixed by screws 12 to the stationary top plate or sinker cam ring of .the 'machine Thse fingers are thrown down into operative position by vertical pushrods 13 mounted to slide in the brackets. 5. These push rods are operated selectively by a plunger 14 which ispositioned under the proper push rod by the, movef ment of a carrierbloek 15 which is slidably mounted in the bracket 5. therefore, may be defined as a member for operating the yarn fingers, and it is mounted ou the carrier. The lower end' of the plunger rests upon a lifter plate 16 which is'of sufficient width .to insure Contact with 'nsA The plunger,

the lower end of the plunger in all posi- I 17 to the fixed bracket and it has a roller 18 designed to be acted on by a rotary cam member 19iixed bcneaththe rotary sinker bed.. This ram operates the lifter and if the plunger 14 has been moved by its carrier 15 to a position under one of the push rods 13 (there being four in each group) the' rise -of the outer end of the lifter will elevate the .plunger and cause'it to push upon the .proper rod 13, which, acting on the tail 3 of the yarn finger will throw this down to feeding position. .-The cam. 19 has an ineline 19 which gives to the roller 18 its downward movement sufcient to lower the yarn linger, as just stated, to feeding posi# y tion.` It has y an additional rise 19 which gives the yarn finger a slight additional downward movement, the result of which 1s that a projection 3 of the depressed finger will throw down ai latch plate 20, and asy soon 'as the linger has reached its final posi-I tion the latch plate will rise under the action of its spring 20 and said operated yarn finger will be retained in its operated position to continue feeding the yarn. The same action, just described, which results in the depression of the latch plate by the movement of the operated yarn finger downward to feeding position will release any one of the yarn fingers of this group so that this will rise and withdraw its yarn from worlg. This rise of the released yarnwfmger'wll be due to the actionYof-thefsprig 3a with which each yarn linger is provided at its pivot. Fig. 1 shows one linger in low or feeding position held by the latch plate and the upper or released position of one of the fingers isl also shownA The release of a finger from feeding position, above mentioned, is due to the fact that when the new yarn finger is thrown down, its projection engages and presses down the outer end of the latch plate by working against the upper surface of its upstandinglatch portion and carries this low enough to release the projection 3 of the finger which has been feeding. Any push rod 13 which may be operated can fall down to normal position as soon as the plunger 14 moves away from its lower end,

.and in this lowered position the push rods rest upon the upper surface of the plungers carrier block l5. The plunger itself is under tension of a spring 14 (seated between the walls of the carrier, which is channel shaped) which forces it downward. In its upper positon the plunger' will be retained by a detent 14 which is in the form of a leaf spring 14x having the detent projection 14 to enter a notch 14*1 in the plunger, i. e., the same notch which the end of spring 14 lies in, but this happens only when the lcarrier 15 is at he left hand limit of its stroke, which is its normal position. The holding up of this plunger also has the eii'ect of keeping the lifter plate 16 up, so that its roller, which is biased by gravity to be normally down, will not be hit by the rotary cam 19, and therefore the lifter plate will not flap up and down idly. This`condition is illustrated on the right of Fig. 1. When,

it down and thus tip the lifter plate into position, so that its roller will be within the range of the cam 19v and hence will be operated by said cam to swing the outer end of the plate upwardly and thus raise the manolo plunger to move the proper yarn finger into `feeding position and release the other iinger, so that it may rise to inoperative position under the action of its spring. This downward movement of the plunger when the carrier Vmoves to the right is due also to its working against an incline .14 on the frame or bracket. .x

T he plunger carrier is moved towards the right, from its left hand position shown in Fig. 2, by pattern mechanism as follows:

A rod 21 connects the sliding carrier with a lever 22. iiXed to a shaft 23 mounted in the fixedigaclrete-supporl on the fixed The shai't 23 1s operated by an arm 23 whose hub is pinned thereto at 23, the depending end of which arm engages'a notch 25 in a slide 25, Figs. 3 and 12. which has pivoted at 26 four pull bars 27, Fig. 3, each of which rests upon one of the pins 28 mounted in a carrier bar 29, so as to slide freely therein, in a substantially vertical direction. This carrier bar has movement up and down in relation to the perforated pattern strip or jacquard device which in the present case consists of an endless sheet of flexible material, as paper 30', passing over a pattern drum 30 referred to more fully hereinafter. movement of the pin carrying bar is derived from a cam 31 arranged coaXially with the needle cylinder and adapted to operate against a roller 32 carried by a slide 33 which is guided inthe bracket 34, Figs. 2`

and 4. This slide bears against an eccentric pin 35 carried by a rocking arm 35.wh1ch is pivotally mounted at`36 and is connected with an arm 37 which has thereon the pin- .it engages the heiads of the pins and holds them up. The jacquard strip -is perforated and is moved step by step by the intermittent movement ofthe drum 30 which has teeth 30X engaging marginal openings in the strip. Now when the pin carrying' bar moves down, any pin which finds an opening in the paper strip will pass therethrough, but any pin which strikes an imperforate part of the strip will be held up despite the fact, as just stated. that the pin carrying bar has lowered. The pin which passes through the perforation in the paper lstrip will of course move down and this will allow the pull har 27, which is resting thereon, to i'all also, and this will bring'a shoulder 27 on the pull bar into range of an oscillating push plate or bar 39 with the result that, supposing the push plate is moving towards the left inl Fig. 2. the pull bar 27 which has fallen will be pushed leftward .and drawing upon the slide 25 will operate the arm 23 which engages i'ts notch 25', Fig. 3, and turn the The up and down the right and moving the'plunger carrier 15 rightward to bring the plunger 14 under the proper push bar 13 for operating the corresponding yarn feed finger into operative position, when the lifter plate 16 movesl upwardly. The train of connections just. described will bereturned to .normal position, as will be hereinafter described. The pull bar which has been operated, as just described, will beelevated to normal position by the rise of the pin carrying bar 29 which will elevate the pin upon which said pull bar rests, and when raised' tothis normal position the said pull bar Will be out of range of movement of the oscillating bar.

39, ready for another action such as just described, when' the pattern strip calls for it. rA's before stated, there are four pull bars`27 connected with the one slide 25, and the shoulders 27 of these pull bars are in line with each other, see Fig. 3, but it will be noticed that the oscillating bar 39 has a' series of shoulders 39 in stepped relation,

and consequently at different distances from the shoulders 27 of the pull bars 27, sof

that the slide 25 will be moved different distances, according to which one of the four -pull bars is loweredf into range of the oscillating bar 39. The b'ar'39 oscillates always through the same length of arc, it lbe- -ing mounted on aframe 39 'pivoted at 39x to the bracket 34, 2, and it is operated as will be described hereinafter. If the iirst one of the pull bars 27 (counting from the bottom of Fig. 3) is the lone lowered, then the oscillating'bar 39 will move this the maximum distance, because its shoulder 27 stands nearest to theedge .of the bar 39. -This pull bar will therefore cause a full right'ward, movement ofthe plunger carrier 15 and the plunger-14 will select the right hand push `bar 13 to throw the right hard i yarn finger down to operativeposition. the second pull bar 27 `is lowered, there will be. some lost motion of the oscillating bar 34 so that the plunger carrier 15 will not be moved so 4far to. the right as in the first instance, -and consequently the 4plunger 14 will select and operate the second yarn finger (counting from the right of thc group A, Fig, 3) and so on `as to the other pull bars 27, each in order being o erated to a lesser degree than the prece ing one, owing to the stepped formation 39 in relation to the shoulders 27l of the pull bars.

Thetrain of mechanism just described J has relation to the group of yarn lingers A.

A similar operation takes place in relation to the group of yarn fingers indicated atwB, lFig. 3. There is a plunger carrier 15a for this side of the machine with a rod"2l, a lever 22a, and a shaft 23a, which-latter is arranged axially in line with-the shaft section 23 above,y mentioned. and this shaft section 23a is operat .through an arm 23h' fixed thereon from a slide 25a which is like the slide 25 and has four pull'bars 27a pivoted thereto, tobe controlled bycertain of the pins 28 and operated severally bythe same oscillating bar 39 when the pins find openings inthe the carrier bar 29 is lowered.

It will be noted that the lingers of group A may be selected in anyr prescribed order desired, the variations in the order of selection' depending upon the disposition of the holes in the jacquard?Y strip, and this is true ,also of the group of fingers B and .the order 4of selection of one group' may be entirely different from that of the other group. In other words, the twol groups are entirely independent of each other in the sense that the order of; selection of'the fingers of one group may vary vindefinitely in respect to the other group,'tho ughithe selection-in respect to the two groups' is derived from-the same source, i. e.,'the jacquard strip.

The push plate39 is operated by a spring 40 in one direction, this spring being connectedto the swinging frame 39, and in the other direction the operation is due toV a cam 41 operating against a roll 42 mount- "ed on a slide 33 which bears against an adjusting screw 43 carried by the frame. The eccentric pin 35 of the lever 35 may be turned for adjustment of its contacting relation with the slide 33 by ascrew driver, the headof this pin being kerfed, -and when adjusted it is held 'by a set screw 35". The rocking of the frame 39 is utilized for opera-ting the pattern drum step by step, for which purpose the frame carries a pawl 44 to engagewthe: teeth 45 of the drum. This attern drum is substantially like that shown 1n an application of Howie and Taylor, Serial No. 549,253, filed April 3rd, 1922. It involves a rotary part 30 which has the teeth which drive the pattern strip and a stationary part 30n which is fixed tothe bracket arm 30b at 30c and this stationary part has the'opening or openings 30d through which the-pins 28 passwhen an opening in the jacquard strip aligns therewith and when the pin is lowered by the bar 29.

In order to return the carrier slide 15 .to normal position at the left ofA Fig. 2. after beingv operated to the 'right (it being 0bserved that the pull bars 27 have only the advancing shoulder 27 but not the return shoulder, see F ig. 3) the lever 22 has a downward extension 22X connected by a rod 4G with an arm 47 on a vertical shaft 48 mounted 'in the fixed base of the machine and in a bearing 49, Fig. 1, and this shaft carries an arm 50 fixed thereto which is in thc path of a roller 51 on the shaft 52 forming a part of the rotary take-up mechanism. This mechanism maybe of any suitable type and needs no detail description herein, except jacquard strip through which to pass when which is indicated at 54.

to say that revolving frame. of this takeup mechanism is shown -at 53, and this aii'ords bearings for the shaft 52, one oi The shaft is driven by a gear 55 meshing with a circlilar rack 56 which is supported in fixed relation to the traine by arms T. `The shaft 52 carries the clutch 58 which drives the takeup rolls located within the fabric cam 5S) and not shown, these rolls being journaled in the revolving take-up frame 53. The roll 51 travelling about. the axis of the machinewill hitlthe arm't) and through the rock shaft 4S and the connections just described the lever 22 willl be returned to the normal position shown in F 2, with the selector plunger let at the lett of the series of'push rods 13 and with the pull bars 27 restored to normal position..

Needle effi/is.

The machine being a two feed type, there are two sets of needle cams, shown in Fig. 5, consisting of stitch cams a, e', raising cams b, b', and fixed cam pieces c. c, and fl, d.

and there are two .trick wheels e, c, at diap in is journaled in the cam block and -on its outer end it has fixed. thereto an arm 60 carrying a screw pin 60 to bear on a controller ring 6l, Fig. l, which on its edge is t stormed with ratchet teeth 61 andf on its upper surface is formed with high and low surfaces 61a and 61h. The controller ,ringr is moved step by step by a pawl 62 pivoted to a lever 63, Fig. 3, which is pivoted at 64 to the base of the machine and is `operated by a slide 65, guided in the frame of the machine and having connected pivotally thereto' at 6G a pull bar 67, Which, like the pull bars before describedyis operated leftward, Fig. 3, by the push plate 39. This pull bar has two shoulders, like the one which appears in Fig. 2, so that the push plate 39 will engage one shoulder to advance the pull bar leftvvard to turn the controller ring in the arrow y direction, Fig. 3, and whenthe push plate 3 9 returns to the right it will engage the other shoulder of the pull bar and return itto normal position to retract the paWl for a fresh operation. No detent. is required to hold the controller ring against overthrow, as the action is not rapid and the frictionV is sufficient to prevent undue movement. One step movement will cause a high part of this controller ring 6l to tip the arm G0 up and this, as indicated at the right ot' Fig. 5, will cause the flat face of the pin G0 to engage the lower shoulder of the cam post 59 and lower the stitch cam for making slack stitches, and when the next lstep nioven'ient. ot' tlie controller ring takes place, according to the demands of the pattern mechanism, the low part G1 of the controller ring will allow'the arm G0 to lower, thus turning the crank pin, so that the spring 55) then becomes eiective to raise the cam post 59 and allow the stitch cam to assume position for knitting normally tight.

yi`hc control just described is exerted at both t'eeds simultaneously, because the turning ot' the controller ring `will operate the two stitch cams a and e simultaneously, it being onderste id that there is a crank pin GO and arm titl .at cach ol the stitch canis. The knitting ot the slack course is for. making, tor instaiice,'tlie neck band portion of the nocktie.

l'lie needle raising cams I), b are pressed normally downward by springs 68 arid the are raised by star wheels or c ams 69'whic lic in the notches (39 of their 'posts 69, the springs being pocketed in the posts and held in place by overlying plates 69x fixed to the cam box. The star cams are formed in one piece with the hubs 70 of ratchet wheels 70 which are turned step by step, and at such intervals as are prescribed by the pattern mechanism by pawls 70.

The hubs 70 are journaled in the cani housing or box 7l. -rhe pawls 70 are reciprocated once for each revolution of the machine. lhey are pivotally connected with rocking arms70X mounted on a shaft 70, Fig. 2. The arm 70X is rocked by a rod 72, Figs. 2 and 3, connected With a bell crank 72 pivoted to the base of the machine and operated by a slide 72 having` a pin 72 engaging a notch in the bell crank lever. The slide moves in a guide-Way in the base ot the machine and at its inner end it has a roller 73, dotted lines Figs. l and 3, adapted to be struck by cams 73', 73, the former of which moves the slide radially inward, and the latter ot.' which moves the slide radially outward. These cams are carried by the bevel gear 74, dotted lines Fig. l, which transmits rotary motion to. the needle cylinder, it being driven by the bevel gear 74 on the main drive shaft 7st, Fig. l.

. Not every stroke ofthe pawls 70 is effective in turningthe ratchet wheels 70', but oniy when the pattern mechanism calls for it` For controlling these pawls star cams 75 are provided, one of which is shown in F ig. 2, and both of which are shown in Fig. 3. These star cams are connected or formed with ratchet wheels 75', these being mounted to turn freely about the shaft sections 23,

23a. The pawls 70 simply rest onthe star wheels and when these are turned to present their high points beneath the pawls the latvter will be lifted so as to miss their ratchets 70 and hence no change in vthe position of the needle raising camsl b, h will take place,Sr

whereas when the vratchet wheels 7 5 are given their next step movement the fiat or low sides of the star cams will come under the pawl bars 7 0f and 'these will lower so as to engage and turn the ratchet wheelsl 70 on their next stroke to the right, thus, to adjust the needle raising cams b', vertically.

The ratchet wheels 7 5 are turned step by step by pawls 75x ypivotally mounted at 75l Vto slides 7 6, one for each side of the machine,

Fig. '3, `each of which vhas a'pull bar 76A resting on one of the pins28 'to be controlled thereby as to its'up or down position in respect to the push plate 39 which is to operate them in a manner` before described.

Each of these pull bars is advanced and retracted by the push plate 39.

' The vertical adjustment ofthe needle raising cams cooperates'with trick. wheels -in forming the pattern. If these cams are in their lower positions. those needles which are not raised to clear their latches will pass 'these cams' in 4tucking position and tuck stitches will be formed on theseneedles, while thoseneedles whose butts engage the seats jin the trick wheel will knit, whereas if these raising cams are intheir elevated positions all needles will knit, because those which p'ass by the'trick wheels in tucking positionwill be raised by the earns b, b to'-l clear their latches and hence these needles also will knit. I

Auxiliary yarn fingers.

Supplemental yarn feed `fingers are shown at' f and g. These are pivotally mounted in 7 a bracket 7 7 and-are raised and lowered byA push-rods 77 andsprings, as at 77 7 .v The push' rods are operated by star cams at 78,

Fig. 2, turned by ratchet wheels 78. Pawlsv 78" turn the ratchet wheels and these pawls are worked by levers 79 loosely mounted on the shaft 28and operated by slides 79', 79, which are operated bythepull bars 80, 480', of. the pattern mechanism. These fingers are adapted to feed only thoseneedles which areraised to knitting position by the trick wheels. They' will not feed those needles which leave the trick wheel in tucking position and hence variations in the pattern can be produced by throwingl these fingers into andoutof work. These auxiliary fingers, when lowered'to feeding position lie just below the elevated throat 10" of thering 11,

ysee diagram Fig. 5, so that they. feedthe yarn over the edge of this thoat to the neei dles which are fully elevated by the trick wheel. This feeding position of the aux`1l` 4iary yarn finger is indicated at f, Fig. 5, and its raised position at f. The raised "posi-A tion of the other auxiliary yarn finger is indicated at g. l Its feeding position is at the ysame low level of the finger at This difference in the elevated positions of these two fingers is for the purpose of preventing the two yarns from winding or twisting tof gether clear up to the yarn fingers frornthe center of the fabric, which, if it happened,

would prevent the yarns from being fed to the needles properly when the auxiliary is lowered to feeding position. In other words, by giving a separated'position-to the two auxiliary yarn fingers when raised equalto the distance betweenf and g, the two auxiliary yarns are ke t apart, so that each may be lowered to feeding-position individually without interference by the other yarn. The feeding position of the main yarn fingers is indicated at A. and their Cain b is down, or it may be higher up, if

cam 7) is raised, but in either case the yarn will be taken by all of the needles at this point. The feed mouth for the other group of yarn fingers B is shown at 10.` guide finger o'fprojects up .from the throat l0 to .properly control the yarn fed over the edge c' of the throat.`

The main yyarn ingerswhen lowered to .feeding position direct the yarn between or alongside of guards p, three in number, and consisting of thin plates depending from a bar 7) extending Vacross and secured to the top of the ring 11. These plates have their lower edges inclining downwardly and .A

inwardly towards the center of the machine and direct theidle yarns from the fingers which are raised towards the machines' axis, where theseidle yarns are twisted -into 'a ropeor cord form. This action is also assisted by a guard p2 consisting of a wire attached to bar 79 and inclining downwardly and inwardly. When a yarn 'finger ,is raised, the point where this yarn is tied into the fabric of course travels with theA needle'row and this idle yarn, by coming against the inclined edges of the guards p and 792, which i efl'ect presenta depending cone formation with apex downward, will be directed downwardly and to the axial center of the machine, where they will be4 twisted together, but by the use of the guards the yarns will be kept separate for -a conslderable length thereof extending from the yarn fingers, and thus each may be lowered individually without interference by the other yarns, it being observed that the point where the twisting begins is below the level of the feeding positions of the yarnfingers. Suppose in Fig. 3 that one of the yarn feed fingers is lifted out of work. The yarn end which is tied into the fabric will travel in the arrow direction and extend across the interior of the needle cylinder, but it will be depressed at its center by sliding down the inclines of the plates p and bar p2, and as the .rotary movement con'- tinues and additional idle yarn is drawn off, it will twist together at the center of the cylinder.

I provide means for counting the number i of neckties knit. This consistsof counting mechanism C, Fig. '2, operated by a rod 81, Fig. 2, from a lever 82, the lower arm of which is operated by a slide 83, Fig. 3, having a pull bar 84 controlled by the pattern mechanism before .described Reverting to the yarn finger selecting mechanism and particularly to the action of the plunger 14 and the return arm 50, it will be observed that this return arm, when struckby the roller 51, will returnA the plunger carrier 15 towards the left, Fig. 2, until the plunger 14 gets under the cam incline 14"- of the bracket. Further move- 'ment ofthe plunger carrier leftward will be due to the rise of the plunger under the .action-of the lifter. plate 16, which will force the plunger up into Contact with the said cam incline 14b and thus shift itv further leftward. This will have the effect of throwing the return arm 50 further out, so that it will be entirely outside the path of movement of the roller 51,so as not to be hit idly thereby. This action just described will set the parts at the pattern mechanism lin normal position so that at the proper time the plunger carrier lwill be moved towards the right, the plunger 14 will be lowered, together with'the outer end of the lifting plate 16, so that its roller 18 will now be in the path of cam 19, vand the return arm 50 will be set inward to be struck by the roller 51 when this comes around to restore the mechanism partway to normal position, this taking place after the lifting plate 16 has operated to raise the plunger 14 and change the 'yarn fingers.l

The machine is provided with so-called sinkers or web holders of substantially known form and operation.

In Fig. 5 only a few of the notches of the trick wheel are shown, this being for. convenience of illustration.

Certain features disclosed herein have been made the subject of and claimed in divisional applications for knitting machines filed May 2, 1924, Serial No. 710,627, and knitting machines filed July 18, 1924,

mechanism for changing the positions of i said cams and the 'latter relating to pattern mechanism.

I claim- 1. In a knitting machine and in combination, Aa set of yarn feed fingers free from interconnecting power transmitting means between. them',- pattern means for throwing said fingers individually to feeding position, and means for automatically throwing the finger which has been feeding out of action a consequence of the movement of a finger to feeding position said means being controlled by the .latter finger.

Ina knitting machine and in combination, a plurality of yarn feed fingers, patternv means for selecting and throwing tht` fingers individually to feeding position, detent means for holding the fingers in feeding position arranged toengage a portion of the feeding finger, Said detent means releasing the feeding finger for its return to non-.feeding position when :mother finger is moved to feeding position, and means for returning the finger fo normal position when released by detent means, substantially as described.

3. In a knitting machine and in combination, .a set of Ayarn feed fingers. pattern means for throwing the fingers individually to feeding position, detent means for holding the fingers to feeding position. said detent means releasing the feeding linger for its return to non-feeding position when an other finger is moved to feeding position, said detent being operated to release the finger which has been feeding by contact of a portionof said other finger as it moves to i feeding position.

4. In combination, a group of yarn feed fingers arranged. side by side and piif'otally mounted, means for moving Ithe fingers to feeding position, a detent engaging the fingers near their free ends, said detent being operated to release position by contact of either ofthe fingers on its way to feeding position to thereby free the finger which has been feeding, so that it may return to .nonfeedingl position, said detent then engaging the finger which has vjust operated it to hold it in feeding position, substantially as described.

5. In combination in a knitting machine. a group of yarn feed fingers, a detent engaged by a portion of any one of the fingers on its way to feeding/position tothereby release the finger which has been feeding, said.- detent thereafter engaging the newly\positioned finger to hold it in feeding position.

6. In combination in a knitting machine, a group of yarn feed fingers, pivotallv 'mounted side by side, a detent plate, each of said fingers having a portion to engage said llO has been lfeeding before the finger which is nearing feeding position reaches said position, said detent then assuming position to 'hold the newly operated finger 1n its feeding position, substantially as described.

7. In combination, la group of yarn feedf ing fingers pivotcd side by side at their uppell ends, meansfor throwing the fingers down to feeding posit-ion, a' detent plate adjacent the feeding point to be engaged and substantially as described.

8. In combination, a group of yarn feed fingers movably mounted to` be thrown to and from feedmg posltion, a plunger wlth i means for shifting it to different positions to select the desired yarn feed finger to be thrown to ,feeding posltion, 'and detent means for holding the fingers when thrown to feeding position and` for releasing the finger which has been feeding for its return to non-feeding position, said releasing being e'ected by the contact of the newly selected finger with said detent means, sub stantially as described.

9. In combination, a group of yarn feedv fingers pivotally supported, detent meanson one side of the pivot for holding the fingers in feeding position and adapted to be struck and operated by another finger to release the one that has been feeding as said other finger is moved to feeding position to be held by said detent, each of said'fingers having a tail portion on the other side of said pivot, and means for selecting and operating the yarn fingers by `Contact with said tail portions, substantially as described.

10. In combination, a group of yarn feed lingers pivotally mounted, push bars arranged sideJ by side for operating the fingers, a plunger for selecting and operating the push bars,a movable carrier for the plunger with means for shifting it to different selective positions, and means for operating the plunger when set in anyV one of its selecting positions, substantially as described.

11. In combination, a group of yarn 'feed fingers pivotedV side by side, a carrier movable in a plane parallel with the pivot aXis lof the fingers, a plunger on the carrier, means for moving the carrier to different positions so that the plunger will select and operate the desired yarn feed finger, and

means for operatingtheplunger `in-any one' of its selective positions, substantially as .described 12. In combination, a group of yarn feed fingerspivotally mounted 'side by side and lhaving tail portions, a carrier with means for reciprocating it transverse to the planes lin which the fingers swing, a plunger on the carrier, means for` operating the plunger substantially vertically, and push rods movable substantially vertically when operated by the plunger, said rods engaging the tails of the fingers to throwthem into' feeding` position, substantially described. 18. In combination in a knitting machine, a rotary needle carrier, yarn feed fingers, a reclprocating carrier, a'plunger thereon for selecting the yarn feed fingers according to the pattern desired to be thrown into and out of feeding position, means for operating the selecting plunger to operate the .yarn lfeed fingers and a cam rotating coaxial with and on the needle cylinder for actuating the i latter means. f

111. In combination in acircu'lar knitting machine having a rotary needle cylinder, a plurality of independently operable yarn feed fingers arranged side by side, a selecting device movable back and forth along the group o f yarn feed fingers, pattern mechanism for giving said selecting device its movement for settingit to operate the yarn feed fingers in prescribed order, and means rotating about the vertical axis of the machine With the needle carrier for actuating the selecting device to move the selected yarn feed finger to its feeding position, substantially as described.

15. In combination a knitting head, a group of yarn feed lingers pivotally mounted, a push bar for each yarn finger movable in 'a vertical' plane, a carrier having back and forth movementy beneath the. lower ends o f the push rods, a plunger on thecarrier, a cam on the knitting head, and a member movedby said cam in a vertical plane for operatingsaid plunger, substantially as described. I

16. In combination a needle cylinder, a` group of yarn feed lingers, a member shiftable to different positions in .respect to the group of yarn feed fingers for i selecting the yarn fingers in desired order, pattern mechanism for shifting said member, and means' for operating the. member in any of the positions to which it is shifted for operating the se`- lected yarn finger, said -means consisting of a plate having to and fro-.movement and a cam member rotating with the needle cylinerating the said fingers lever connected to the rod, a rock shaft car-" to which-it is shifted vertical-plane, and a cam rotating with and aboutthe axis of the knitting head for opplate, substantially as described.

k18. In combination in a circular knitting machine, groups of yarn feedingfingers located at substantially opposite sides of the knitting head and pivotally mounted, a pair of slidable carriers, one for each group of yarn feed fingers, pattern mechanism for shifting said carriers transverse to the -planes of move-ment of the yarn nger, a

member on each carrier for selecting,r and operating the yarn feed fingers in the prescribed order according to the pattern called for, and means for operating the said member while in any one of the several' positions A by its carrier, substantially as described.A 19. In combination, a group of yarn feed pivotally mounted a carrier reciprocable i a plane parallel with the' axis of the pi ots, a member on the carrier for operating the lingers individually according to the positions to which the carrier is shifted, means for operating said'member, a pull bar connected with the reciprocating carrier and reciprocable in the same direction therewith, and means controlling the times of operation of the pull bar. substantialy as described.

20. In combination, av group ofyarn fingers arranged side by side, a carrier having a back and forth movement transverse to the plane of movement of the yarn fingers, a member on the carrier to operate the yarn fingers, a rod connected with the` carrier. a

rying the lever, a. slide for turningthe rock shaft, said slide being movable parallel with the carrier, a pull rod connected with the slide'lp-ivotally, a pattern mechanism for controlling the rise and fall of the pull rod, and a member to engage and operate the pull rod when it is lowered, substantially as described.

"21. In combination in a knitting lmachine, agroup of yarn feed fingers, a carrier with meansthereon for selecting y the yarn fingers according` to the position to which the carrier is'shifted, a pull bar connected with the carrier for moving it in one direction7 means-for operating the pullbar. pattern means for determining the times of operation'of the pull bar, and means for restoring the carrier to` normal position, consisting of a member rotating with the machine, and connections operatedl thereby,

substantially as described.

22. In combination in a knitting machine, a group of yarn feed fingers, a carrier with means thereon for selecting and operating the yarn fingers according to the lposition to which the' carrier is shifted, a pull bar 'connected' with the carrier for moving it in one dlrectlon, means for operating the pull and operating 'forced downwardly,

bar, pattern means for determining the times of operation of the pullbar, and means for restoring the carrier to normal position, consisting of a member rotating with and about the axis of the needle cylinder, and connections operated thereby, substantially as described.

23. In combination in a knitting machine, a group of yarn feed fingers, a reciprocatory carrierhaving a member thereon for operating the yarn feed fingers individually, a pull bar connected to the carrier for moving it in one direction, pattern means for moving said pullbar up and down, a reciprocating member for engaging and operating thc pull bar when in its lowered position, means for operating the reciprocatory member including a cam rotating with and about the axis of the needle cylinder, means for returning the carrier to normal position consisting of a member travelling about the axis of the needle cylinder and connections operated by said member, substantially as described.

24. In combination, a group of yarn iingers, a reciprocating carrier member, a plunger carried thereby to select and operate the yarn feed fingers individually according to the position to which the carrier is moved, a fixed frame having a cam incline against which the plunger bears when the carrier is moved from normal positionto be thereby a member having up and down movement and operating upon the plunger in various positions thereof.

and means for-operating said member to operate the plunger, scribed;

25. In combination, a group of movable yarn feed fingers, a carrier, a plunger on the carrier Ato selectand operate any one of the fingers according to the position to which the ycarrier is moved, means for raising the plunger for operating'the yarn feed .finger with which it registers and also to raise the substantially as deplunger when the carrier with the Iplunger is in idle position, and a detent for holding the plunger elevated-so that its operating mechanism will'be idle, substantially as described. A

26. In combination, a group of yarn feed iingcrs,'a plunger for operating these severally, a springwfor forcing vthe plunger downi wardly, a pivoted member for moving the plunger upwardly to operate the yarn feed finger with which it registers, a cam for operating the pivoted member, said member being set in the path of the cam by Said spring operating upon it through the plung-l er, and a detent for holding the plunger up when itis in idle position, out of line with the fingers so that the pivoted member may assume a position out of line with theiso' fingers, a plunger with means for shifting it into line With said lingers individually, a cam, means intermediate the cam and l'plunger for operating the latter, said means being biased to assume a. position out of line with the cam, when the plunger is raised,

and detent means for holding the plunger.

raised when not registering With any one of the yarn feed lingers, substantially as described.

28. In combination with a knitting inachine, a rotary needle cylinder, a group of yarn feed lingers, selecting means for selecting the lingers in a prescribed order, including a reciprocatoryl carrier having a member thereon to register with the yarn feed fingers, a pullbar connected with the carrier, a push bar for operating the'pull bar,^pat tern mechanism for locating the pull bar in or out of alignment With the push bar, means operated from a', rotary part of the knittinghead for operating the selecting member in any one of the several positions to which it is moved by the carrier, means rotating with the rotary part of the knitting head for operating the push bar, and means for returning the carrier to normal position, com-V prising a lever with connections voperated therebyy and a member rotatin with the needle cylinder for operating said lever, substantially as described.

29. In combination, a group of yarn feed lingers, a reciprocatory carrier, a plunger on the carrier which registersvvith the fingers severally When the carrier moves toits different positions, means having an upand down movement for operating the plunger in any of its several positions, a cam for operating said means, means for returning the carrier to normal comprising a member revolving With the knitting head and an arm to be struck by said member, and a cam incline on the fixed frame to be engaged by the rising plunger for giving the carrier its final restoring movement and thus removing the arm from the path of movement of said member, substantially as described.

30. `In combination, a group of yarn feed fingers, pivotally mounted, a member for operating the yarn feed lingers, a carrier for said member to move it to register with the lingers severally, a plate pivotally mounted and having an arm extending from the opposite side ofthe pivot, a cam revolving with the rotary part of the knitting head to depress said arm for elevating the platewith the plunger to throw a yarn feed 4 finger into feeding position, and a detent on the liXed frame forengagng the plunger and holding it up when the carrier is moved to normal or idle position, said plate then assuming automatically a posi-tion with its vrarm out ofl line with the cam to remain idle,

and a spring for forcing the plunger down l when released from its detent by the movement of the carrier from normal position,

the downward movement of the plunger seta group of yarn feed lingers pivotally -mounted side by side, a reciprocatory :car-

. rier, a. member thereon for operating the yarn feed fingers when brought into registration vvith the fingers severally by the movement of the carrier, means for operat- 'ing said member, a 4lever connected with the `carrier, a rock sha-ft on which the lever is mounted, pattern mechanism for operating the rock shaft to dilferent degrees in one direction, and means for returning the carrier to normal position comprising a pivoted arm, a member travelling with a rotary part of the machine for operating said arm, and

'a connection from the arm to the said lever,

substantially as described.

32. In combination in a `multiple feedV knitting machine, multiple groups of yarn feed lingers, means at each group for selecting the yarnA feedfingers which are to be changed, including a reciprocatory carrier having a selecting member thereon, means for operating said selecting members, a pull bar for each carrier, slides for the pull bars to which the pull bar is pivotally connected, means for operating the pull bars', and pattern means for controlling the times of engagement of the pull bars individually With the operating means, substantially as described.

33. In combination in a knitting machine,I

'sired, substantially as described.

34. In combination in a multiple feed knitting machine, a group of yarn feed fingers at each feed, selecting means for selecting the yarn feed fingers which are to be changed, a pair of rock shafts coaxially arranged end to end, connections from the rock shafts for setting the selecting means in various positions to select'the desired yarn feed finger, slides having connection with the rock shafts 'for turning them individually, pull bars connected to the slides, needle cams, means for raising and lowering the same, devices loose on theA rock shafts for controlling said means, slides having connection with said devices for turning them on the rock shaft, pull balS connected with the latterl slides, means for operating the pull bars, and pattern means for controlling the positions of the vpull bars in or out of the path of movement of 4their operating means, vsubstantially as the different positions to which it is set for -changing the positions of the yarn feed fingers,and 'means for shifting the selecting thesaid shoulders being spaced apart diimeans from place to place to operate the desired fingers, comprising pull bars having shoulders, and a push bar having shoulders,

ferently to give diii'erent degrees of movement to the pull bars from a substantially uniform back and forth movement of the push bar, whereby the selectingV means will be moved to different degrees, and pattern means for: controlling-the position of the pull bars individually in or out of line'with theiroperating means; substantially as described.l l

36; In combination .in a knitting machine. knitting devices including yarn feed fingers andknitting cams, a group 'of pull bars, connections between the'v said-pull bars and `1 theknitting devices, pattern mechanism for raising andv lowering the pull bars, a. pull bar operating lmember having a back and 'forth movement, some of the `p1`1ll bars having two shoulders to be contacted by'said member for operating the pull bars back and forth, others of'A said bars having only one shoulder, each to be moved in one direction by said operating member, dqneans for' restoring these latter'pull bars to normal position, independently of the said operating member, said lastA mentioned pull-bars controlling the Achanging of the yarn feed fingers, substantially as described.

37. In combination, a group of yarn fingers, selecting and operating means therefor, means for setting the selecting means in different positions, a pair of supplemental yarn fingers, pull bars. for operating said setting means and the supplemental yarn fingers, and means for operating the pull bars.

3 8. In combination, a group of yarn'fi'ngers, selecting and operating means therefor, means for setting the selecting means yarn lingers, and means for operating the Y pull bars, said setting means including a rock shaft andy means loosely mounted thereon forming a connection between the supplemental yarn fingers and their pull bars, substantially as described.

39. ln combination in a rotary knitting machine, a rotary head, pull bars connected with knitting devices for controlling their action, a member having a to and fro Ymovement f'or operating the pull bars, a member for raising and lowering the pull bars, a jacquard strip for controlling the position ot the pull bars, a cani rotating with the knitting head for operating the to and fro movingme'mbcr. and a second cam revolving with the knitting head for con- 'with meansoperated .therebyv 'for operating the selecting means to change the position of the yarn fingers, cam means rotating about the axis of the knitting head with 'connections operated thereby for changing the position of one of the needle cams, a pull bar operated by, the said member for controlling the latter connection of thencedle cam. another needle operating cam, a cam ring` movable about the axis of thc machine With means operated thereby for adjusting the needle cam, a pull bar also operated by `the Asaid member, and a connection from said pull bar to said cam for giving it intermittent movement, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

CHARLES C. KRIEBLE. 

